Government Rolls Out P173M Cash Assistance for Cebu Typhoon Survivors

The National Government has started distributing emergency cash assistance to more than 24,000 families in Cebu Province that were severely affected by typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi), which struck the Visayas region more than a month ago.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is leading the rollout of the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program in eight local government units identified as among the hardest hit by the typhoon.

The payouts are scheduled from December 11 to 13, 2025, and aim to help affected families meet immediate needs such as food, medicine, and minor repairs to damaged homes.

Typhoon Tino made landfall in early November, bringing heavy rains and flooding that prompted the declaration of a state of calamity in several areas of Cebu.

The storm caused widespread damage to houses, infrastructure, and livelihoods, displacing thousands of residents and disrupting local supply chains.

According to the DSWD, the ECT program serves as an adaptive social protection measure designed to bridge the gap between immediate disaster relief and longer-term recovery efforts.

The program provides unconditional cash assistance to disaster victims, particularly in situations where the delivery of physical relief goods is constrained by logistical challenges, damaged infrastructure, or limited access to affected communities.

Unlike traditional relief operations that rely mainly on food packs and nonfood items, the ECT program allows families to determine how best to use the assistance based on their specific needs.

The DSWD said this approach enables households to prioritize urgent expenses, such as purchasing medicines, repairing homes, or replacing essential household items lost during the disaster.

The cash-based intervention was activated following Typhoon Tino’s impact on Cebu on November 4, which resulted in massive flooding and widespread damage across urban and rural areas.

Officials said the program also supports the early recovery of local economies by allowing cash to circulate within communities where markets have resumed operations.

The DSWD allocated P173 million for the ECT program in Cebu Province. Each qualified household is set to receive P10,125 in cash assistance.

The funds are intended to cover basic needs, including food, shelter-related expenses, health requirements, and other urgent post-disaster costs.

Distribution is being conducted in eight local government units: the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, and Danao, as well as the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Balamban.

These areas were identified through damage assessments conducted after the typhoon.

In Cebu City alone, more than 3,000 households across over 60 barangays are receiving assistance. The distribution is being facilitated by the city’s Department of Social Welfare Services.

Local officials said the amount of assistance varies depending on the extent of damage sustained by each household. Families with damaged houses are receiving P5,000, while those whose homes were totally destroyed are being given P10,000.

City officials said the assistance is meant to provide immediate relief while further assessments are ongoing to determine additional forms of support that may be needed during the recovery phase.

The government’s use of cash transfers marks a shift in disaster response strategy, emphasizing flexibility and efficiency.

Officials said cash-based assistance reduces logistical and administrative burdens, as it eliminates the need for procurement, storage, and transport of physical relief goods, particularly in areas where roads and supply routes remain compromised.

The ECT program is also expected to help revive local economies by encouraging spending at operational stores and service providers within affected communities.

By enabling families to purchase goods locally, the program supports small businesses while addressing the immediate needs of disaster survivors.

The DSWD said it will continue monitoring the distribution process and coordinating with local government units to ensure that assistance reaches eligible beneficiaries.

Further support measures may be rolled out as recovery efforts progress in typhoon-affected areas of Cebu.